Frogs Prominent on All-Big 12 TeamFields named the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year

Stansly Maponga

Dec. 5, 2012

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Eighteen TCU football players have received All-Big 12 honors from the conference's coaches and media, highlighted by Devonte Fields being the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous selection by the coaches as the Defensive Freshman of the Year.

The following Horned Frogs received honorable-mention notice for individual awards: tailback B.J. Catalon (Offensive Freshman of the Year), offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje (Offensive Newcomer of the Year), Fields (Defensive Lineman of the Year), Foltz (Offensive Lineman of the Year) and Verrett (Defensive Player of the Year).

Six of the 11 starters on TCU's Big 12-leading defensive unit were first- or second-team selections. Five of those players will return next season. Cain is the only senior on the depth chart for TCU's defense.

Fields, who tops the Big 12 in tackles for loss (17 1/2) while placing second in sacks (9), is the only freshman or sophomore to be a first-team All-Big 12 pick this season.

An Arlington, Texas, native, Fields was named the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Maponga, the lone Horned Frog to be a preseason All-Big 12 choice, missed two games and parts of two others due to injury. He still totaled six tackles for loss, including 3 1/2 sacks, with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Verrett is the Big 12 leader in interceptions (6) and passes defended (20). He is the only player nationally to rank in the top 10 in both categories.

The San Antonio Express-News tabbed Verrett as its Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.